Nigeria to have first reduced emissions project

Nigeria will soon have the first project on Reduced Emissions from Deforestation and Degradation (REDD)

The Minister of Environment, Mr. John Odey stated this in his remarks at a National Climate Change Post Copenhagen Summit held in Abuja.

The project according to the Minister will be established in Cross Rivers State as the first in West Africa. It has also been registered as a Clean Development Mechanism (CDM).  Mr. Odey added that the project will boost our Certified Emission Reductions stock as Nigeria presently controls at least 40% of Africa’s Certified Emission Reduction unit (CERs).

The Minister explained that we are fast-tracking the development of the National Adaptation Plan of Action (NAPA) as a proactive strategy for national response to the looming negative consequences of climate change.

He observed that the Ministry is further exploring areas of collaboration with our development partners on both mitigation and adaptation projects.  On the lessons of the last Climate Change Summit in Copenhagen, Mr. Odey said that it fell short of our expectations, but he stressed the need for the country to search for home grown strategy.

In his speech at the occasion, the World Bank Country Director, Mr. Onno Ruhl urged Nigeria to step up its home grown strategy on Climate change in order to achieve its ambition of Vision 20-2020.

He also stressed the importance of African leaders to work together, act together and act differently to combat the impact of climate change.  There were goodwill messages from the National Assembly.

The two day summit was organised by the Special Climate Change  Unit of the Ministry with the assistance of the World Bank and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).